§ Ms Glenda JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued to NHS trusts on the provision of specialist health care for autistic children. [142026]
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§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 11 December 2000]: In 1998, the Department published "Signposts for Success"—good practice guidance for commissioning and providing health services for people with learning disabilities, who include many with autism. In 1999 we issued "Once a Day" which sets out good practice in this area for primary health care teams.
The needs of autistic people who also have a learning disability will be covered by the forthcoming White Paper on learning disability which we expect to publish early next year. We are also considering the recommendations of a review of the current issues surrounding children and adults with Asperger' s Syndrome which we commissioned late last year.
§ Ms Glenda JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research studies into the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder his Department has funded; and if he will make a statement. [142027]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 11 December 2000]: There is a large volume of research on all aspects of autism. Details of projects can be found on the National Research Register (NRR) which also contains details of projects and trials funded by the Medical Research Council and other research funders. The NRR shows that there are currently 51 ongoing and 82 completed projects on autism. Of these, seven examined the diagnosis of autism.
The Medical Research Council (which is funded largely by Government) has included an Autistic Diagnostic Interview study in its programme of work on autism.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the net change in the incidence of autism in the last five years. [142461]
§ Mr. HuttonThe number of children identified as having autism is increasing. Although the full explanation for this is not clear, it is at least in part due to improvement in diagnosis by the clinical professions, including child mental health specialists and community paediatricians.
Most experts agree that the estimated prevalence rate of classic autism is between four and five per 10,000 population. Prevalence of all autistic spectrum disorders is more difficult to estimate but could be as high as 91 per 10,000. We are in dialogue with the Medical Research Council over the autism agenda including the possibility of further work on prevalence and incidence.